Qualitative Research in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy in Latin America: Creativity for Studying Complex Objects in Context

Alemka Tomicic is a psychologist and Ph.D. of psychology at the Catholic University of Chile. She is a Full professor at the University of Diego Portales Faculty of Psychology and Director of the School of Psychology. She is also a researcher at the Center for Studies in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (CEPPS) at the same university. Likewise, she conducts studies on experience in process-outcome research in psychotherapy and the subjective construction of the knowledge of illness and mental health problems. Furthermore, she has participated as a researcher in mental health and culturally competent psychotherapy projects of LGBT+ people, funded by the National Agency of Research and Development (ANID: Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo in Spanish). Since 2015, she has been an associate researcher at the Millennium Institute for Research on Depression and Personality (MIDAP) of the Millennium Science Initiative in Chile. Since 2025, she is co-director of the same institute.

Javiera Duarte Soto is a psychologist who holds a Master’s degree in Adult Clinical Psychology and a Ph.D. in Psychotherapy from the University of Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. She has received specialized training in various mentalization-based treatments and is a certified EMDR therapist. With extensive clinical experience, Javiera primarily focuses on mood disorders, anxiety, and personality disorders. Currently, she works as an associate professor and researcher at Diego Portales University and the Center for Studies in Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy (CEPPS). Additionally, she is Researcher at the Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP). Javiera’s research interests focus on the subjective experiences of individuals facing mental health challenges and the complex dynamics involved in the psychotherapy process. Through her work, she aims to enhance understanding and treatment approaches in mental health, emphasizing the importance of tailored interventions for various psychological issues.